There is a lot of the Bible which talks about the necessity of God being in the laws. The Hebrew Scripture blends history, politics, and divine intervention in this way. While I think this is a literary tool of an ancient people, more conservative and fundamentalist readings can lend to a Christian Nationalist interpretation. It’s hard to find much in the New Testament that promotes Christian Nationalism. Jesus is recorded as saying “give Caesar what is [his], and give God... Read more
The Social Gospel of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was concerned with the treatment and wellbeing of people’s physical existence rather than their post-mortem destination. They reframed the Good News towards public good and away from personal salvation. The Federal Council of Churches, founded in 1908, published The Social Creed of the Churches later that year. It listed grievances that these churches saw in the industrializing world. These included abolition of child labor, establishing a minimum living wage,... Read more
Capitalism is historically American. Independence, individualism, and entrepreneurship are deeply held American beliefs. These qualities are not wrong, but they aren’t necessarily based on Christian teachings like we may think. I talk a little bit about my feelings about Christianity and capitalism HERE. I also explain a little about the Protestant work ethic HERE. These are great primers to this article. America was in Reconstruction after the Civil War. As the country changed, so did technology. The rise of the... Read more
American Christianity has a long history of entangling religion and work. The Puritans began settling the New World in the 17th century and brought Protestantism and Calvinism with them. If you’re unfamiliar with the Puritans, you can read a little about their story here. The Protestant work ethic is the idea that hard work is proof of one’s salvation. This might sound odd (especially if you grew up with this idea) but this is the core of the message. Puritan... Read more
This is why I decided to go to seminary. The capitalization of Christianity has been a hot subject for me for many years. I saw the underside of the Christian money machine during my time in a Christian band. This put a bad taste in my mouth for a lot of the Christian pop culture. It definitely made me more cynical towards American Christianity as a whole. I stayed Christian, after years of rethinking the American tradition, by looking to... Read more
While the First Great Awakening was a natural byproduct of the English settlers in America, the Second Great Awakening could be seen as the consequence of the Revolutionary War. The Colonists saw Satan as a physical entity acting in the world. Early America saw the devil walking the earth as the ultimate temper. America had just gained its freedom from England and was figuring out who it was going to be. Now, as the issues of the nation change, so does... Read more
Following the Salem Witch Trials of the late-17th century, America was settling back into religious life. Religion was an important part of the week, but there was a group of people in the Colonies that wanted more. A number of religious leaders began to express concerns about the state of religion in the colonies. These leaders believed that the traditional forms of Christianity practiced in the colonies had become too formal and ritualistic. They feared the people were no longer... Read more
The story of the Puritans starts across the pond in England. This Protestant group was founded on its categorical principles – they were protesting the Church of England. Puritans saw the Church of England as being too ‘Catholic’ in their practice. The Church needed reform – and this clash saw the Puritans harassed. The Puritans faced persecution from the Church of England and the government, which viewed them as a threat to the established order. They could be fined, imprisoned,... Read more
I am not the first person to write on the Seven Mountain Mandate. In fact, I didn’t know a lot about it until recently. This idea has seen an uptick in popularity with the Trump presidency. Trump’s spiritual advisor Paula White holds to this movement as well as other prominent government and Christian figures. If you’re new to the name “Seven Mountain Mandate” – you have probably felt it’s reach. It has been in the Far Right Christian circles as... Read more
The Social Gospel movement emerged in the late 19th century in America as a response to the social problems caused by industrialization and urbanization. Christian principles – helping the poor, tackling inequality and injustice – was the driving force of the Social Gospel. Unfortunately, the changes the Social Gospel helped bring were short lived. (read about it here) The rise of Fundamentalism in America was the first blow to the Social Gospel. While on its last legs, the two World... Read more
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